2011 World Team Trials preview for 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in freestyle

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Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
06/06/2011


Jake Varner has emerged as the top contender to make the World Team in this weight class.

Varner looks bigger, stronger and more powerful, and that’s bad news for everyone else in this division.

Varner reached the quarterfinal round of the 2009 World Championships before falling to J.D. Bergman in the finals of the 2010 U.S. World Team Trials.

Varner turned in a strong performance in winning April’s U.S. Open freestyle title at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. 

The win by Varner at the U.S. Open clinches him a spot in the best-of-3 finals series at the World Team Trials, set for June 10-11 in Oklahoma City.

Varner, a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa State, placed fifth in the Ivan Yarygin Memorial in Russia earlier this season.

Bergman has been sidelined with an injury and was unable to compete at the U.S. Open. Bergman beat Varner in the finals of November’s New York AC International.

Past University of Iowa All-American Dan Erekson was a surprise finalist at the U.S. Open. Erekson looked good at 96 kilos after wrestling heavyweight for most of his college career with the Hawkeyes.

Past Oklahoma State wrestler Jack Jensen has come on strong this season. Jensen placed third at the U.S. Open. He downed 2010 NCAA champion David Zabriskie in the third-place match at the Open.

Top young prospect Tyler Lehmann placed fifth in the Open with Brent Jones sixth and Wynn Michalak seventh.

2011 NCAA champion Dustin Kilgore of Kent State received a wild card to the Trials in this division.

2004 Olympic gold medalist and Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson also is a possibility in this class. Sanderson won the Northeast Regional earlier this year at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Sanderson previously competed at 84 kilos and could drop back down there with Varner, a wrestler he coaches, in the mix to win at 96 kilos.

2011 U.S. Open results at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in freestyle
1st – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Dan Erekson, Boise, Idaho (Bronco WC), 7-0, 5-0
3rd – Jack Jensen, Graham, NC (Gator WC) pin David Zabriskie, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 5-0, 1:02
5th – Tyler Lehmann, Fargo, N.D. (OTC) pinned Brent Jones, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC), 1:11
7th – Wynn Michalak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Dan Scanlon, Leesburg, Va., 6-0, 4-0

World Team qualifiers at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in freestyle
U.S. Open Champion – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
U.S. Open, second place – Dan Erekson, Boise, Idaho (Bronco WC)
U.S. Open, third place – Jack Jensen, Graham, N.C. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, fourth place – David Zabriskie, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Tyler Lehmann, Fargo, N.D. (OTC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Brent Jones, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Wynn Michalak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion – Cael Sanderson, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Luke Lofthouse, Avon, Utah (Hawkeye WC)
Past U.S. World Team member – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
University Nationals Champion – Chad Henke, Dayton, Ore. (NWRTC)
University Nationals True Second – Sonny Yohn, Alamosa, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
Sunkist Kids International Champion – Brandon Halsey, Bakersfield, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
National Coach wild card – Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Athletes in Action)
National Coach wild card - Dustin Kilgore, Berea, Ohio (Golden Pride WC)